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severely for being taken. They had put wooden collars on their necks pitch plasters on their eyes and had bambooed them severely. one one of the officers attempting to remove them the poor devils made signs for him to desist that the Mandarines would cut his head off if they found his collar or plasters had been taken off. during the whole of our stay the Turonese had been very busy fortifying and strengthening their works near the river they had Mounted a water battery of 18.[?] lbs and on their Forts near the entrance they were not idle. On all the passages to the forts they were putting abatis &c and during every hour of the Night could be heard the sound of Gongs answering gongs from the battlements. During the night the sound of a gong sound so deep and stiring yet so solemn it is like the tolling of a distant bell. A few days after a gale of wind came on. before it commenced blowing the clouds began to lower around the Mountain until at last they seemed so low that one could almost touch them. During a heavy squall all of our prizes cut and run. Several boats were called away and hastily manned, 8 or 10 guns were fired at them to trim them too but without succeeding. 4 boats had been despatched after them with orders to bring them back. It blew furiously and rained in torrents, One of them was brought to near the mouth of the river around her our boats assembled, after a consultation a few men being left in charge of her The rest started up the river to bring out the other two runaways. We found them filled with soldiers besides this there was 11 man of war Junks anchored across the river. As we neared them, we could distinctly see them pointing their guns at us, but on a nearer approach they deserted them seized their pikes. When within a few yards of them we gave way strong. ran along side toped oars drew cutlasses and boarded as we boarded one side they jumped over-board the other. We retook both of our prizes without trouble. All the Men of War Junks Manned by about 160 Men cut and run. As all of our fire arms were wet and a great many soldiers had collected on the beach it was thought advisable to disperse them before we pulled into the stream for they might open a fire on us then which we could not return. So having landed a party formed them cheered and charged. The Turonese fled like sheep